Ethan Miller / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP
Ethan Miller / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP
Former teammate of Victor Wembanyama at the Metropolitans of Boulogne-Levallois, Bilal Coulibaly is one of the 14 French players under contract in the NBA for the season which begins this Tuesday, October 24 (photo taken in July during the “Summer League” in Las Vegas) .
NBA – This year, it’s Victor and the others. The most anticipated debutant in the NBA since a certain LeBron James, French prodigy Victor Wembanyama is attracting all eyes on the basketball world, in the United States and elsewhere. And yet, in (the immense) shadow of the 2.24 m giant, a cohort of other French basketball players are preparing to put on their sneakers to set foot on the floors of the best championship on the planet, which resumes on the night of Tuesday October 24 to Wednesday October 25.
In total, 14 French people are under contract this season in the “ big league », from the experienced Nicolas Batum, who will play his 16th season in the elite, in rookie undrafted Malcolm Cazalon, for whom grabbing a few minutes between now and spring will already be a great accomplishment. Review of the troops.
Batum, Gobert, Fournier: reconquest operation for veterans
The pitiful elimination in the first round of a World Cup where the Blues were openly aiming for gold showed this clearly: apart from “ Wemby », French basketball is going through a period of doubt. And this is seen in the status in the NBA of the captains of the France team.
With the Los Angeles Clippers, Nicolas Batum no longer has the statistical performance of his best years and serves to plug the gaps in a workforce too often prone to injuries. At the Minnesota Timberwolves, Rudy Gobert did not have the desired effect at the time of his resounding transfer in the summer of 2022 and must still impose his mark on a team that is looking for itself. As for Evan Fournier, despite his undeniable offensive talent, he is stuck on the bench of the New York Knicks and sees his partners playing better without him.
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Result: the only three active French people to have more than ten years of seniority in the NBA are all looking for a rebound. For Batum, everything will depend on the state of health of his partners to be able to finally aim for the title. Gobert will hope to be more involved and regain the level that allowed him to be three times the best NBA defender. And Fournier will have to cross his fingers to obtain a transfer away from the Knicks who no longer count on him.
Hayes, Maledon, Ntilikina… Finally the explosion?
Then come the players who have yet to ensure NBA longevity similar to that of their elders. If he did not completely confirm the expectations that accompanied his NBA Draft (he was chosen in 8th position by… the Knicks), Frank Ntilikina still obtained a contract for a seventh American year with Charlotte. Except that after having already missed the World Cup due to a thigh injury, the former Strasbourg player fractured his tibia in preparation and will miss at least a month of competition.
It is therefore up to his teammate Théo Maledon, and especially the leader of the Detroit Pistons Killian Hayes, both in their fourth year, to prove themselves and raise their level to establish themselves in an increasingly competitive playmaking position. .
We can also mention here the Oklahoma City pair, Olivier Sarr and Ousmane Dieng, who will seek to obtain minutes of play within one of the most attractive squads in the championship, and Moussa Diabaté, partner of Nicolas Batum at the Clippers and who will have to continue to find a place in the rotation, he who can represent a real option for coach Tyronn Lue.
Coulibaly and Rupert to bring a breath of fresh air
But like Victor Wembanyama, the best promises from the French contingent undoubtedly come this year from the rookies (understand beginners).
And how can we not immediately mention Bilal Coulibaly, who exploded last year at the Metropolitans of Boulogne-Levallois alongside “ Wemby “. Chosen 7th in the Draft and sent to the Washington DC Wizards, the one who has just turned 19 already impresses with his defense and his playing intelligence. In one of the weakest squads in the championship, he will above all want to continue his progression and why not make an impression with some great performances.
The challenge will be the same for Rayan Rupert, selected by a Portland team which has just transferred its emblematic playmaker Damian Lillard and which is beginning a reconstruction cycle. The young fullback who left last year to train in New Zealand will in any case have his chance, it’s up to him to seize it.
For Sidy Cissokho (San Antonio Spurs) and Malcolm Cazalon (snubbed during the draft, but who was able to convince the Pistons to offer him a contract), the task will be more difficult and it will be necessary to fight in training to obtain a little playing time. But as Tony Parker proved in his time by seizing the opportunity to find a starting place to ultimately lead the most successful career in French basketball, the young French are not at the shelter from a nice surprise…
Also see on le HuffPost :
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2023-10-24 18:12:10
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